Ownership

February 9, 2010 · Posted in Tao 53 views

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Everything in the world today is considered property. People own land. People own material goods. People even own procedures and concepts.

Humanity’s need to own things wasn’t stopped when we ran out of things to own. Your very own experiences are considered a commodity. If you listen to music or watch a movie without the appropriate people being “rightfully” compensated first, you have committed a crime.

What is wealth? Is it coins? Cash? Numbers in a bank computer? Big houses? Cars? 60″ HD widescreen televisions? Where does it come from?

Other people.

If you run a business, your wealth comes from others who use your products or services. No matter what those may be, you still rely on others to purchase them. Do you own the property for your store or do you lease it? Do you generate the electricity to power your store or do you purchase it? Do you own the communication network you use at your store or do you buy that service, too?

Did you build your car? Sure you paid for it, but you still needed someone to make it. Your wealth comes from others and the wealth of others comes, in part, from you.

As long as you purchase or even benefit from things in a society you belong to those who provide for you. You are are their wealth.

I’m not suggesting that we should give up all our possessions and live alone in the wild (if you can find it). Certainly I want to protect the things I have purchased from being taken. I am suggesting, however, that we not lose sight of our position in this ocean of ownership. Everything is part of the wealth of others. Everyone is part of the wealth of others.

Wealth is a product of society, is measured by society, valued by society and owned by society.

With this in mind, what is the greatest wealth each of us has? What is the most important thing to own? Ourselves. This is the base value by which all other things we have claim on will be compared.

Own yourself, first.

“This is my child, this is my wealth”: such thoughts are the preoccupations of fools. If we are unable to own even ourselves, why make such claims? - Buddha

Tags: ownership, society, wealth